Xenetic Biosciences (LON:XEN) said it and its partner, the Serum Institute of India, have dosed their first intravenous patient with ErepoXen, a potential long-acting treatment for anaemia.
In total 40 chronic renal failure patients will be treated as part of the six-month phase I/IIa trial. The study is designed to confirm safety and reductions in the frequency of dosage, Xenetic said.
EPO, or erythropoietin, is a hormone produced by the kidneys that controls the production of red blood cells. It is also used in synthetic form by physicians to treat conditions such as anaemia.
In the case of end stage renal disease patients, EPO is administered intravenously three times a week.
Xenetic's ErepoXen has already demonstrated in phase I and II(a) clinical trials based on the subcutaneous method of administration that it has the potential to be a long-acting version with a likely dosing profile of once per month.
Xenetic chief executive Scott Maguire said: "The commencement of our IV patient trials in India with ErepoXen is an exciting step forward in combining the two methods of EPO administration.
“We have previously announced positive Ph IIa subcutaneous results and now, with the intravenous trial, we cover the full $9 billion market potential of EPO.
“We now have four drug candidates under clinical development with our partners including two via our recent acquisition of SymbioTec in Germany.
“Our aim is to fund ErepoXen through to an Food & Drug Administration phase IIa at which point we will seek to out-licence this candidate."